Giving them some air

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Fri Feb 08, 2013 1:11 pm

Everytime I open the top, a rush of warm musty air comes out of the Washy teepees

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8457050174/" title="004 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8518/8457 ... 2ffa_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="004"></a>

Washy looks OK, I think:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8457051742/" title="003 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8225/8457 ... 4283_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="003"></a>

Fresh air for some Trachies and the potted Y.rostrata .

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8457053482/" title="005 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8509/8457 ... 89d8_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="005"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8457054972/" title="006 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8242/8457 ... 8eb6_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="006"></a>

And these crazy y.filamentosa are...yup....crazy.
They try to grow this time EVERY year.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8457058868/" title="009 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8247/8457 ... 53fa_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="009"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8455959011/" title="008 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8231/8455 ... e6d0_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="008"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8455950093/" title="010 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8089/8455 ... 788b_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="010"></a>

Barb

Henoh_Croatia · Post by **Henoh_Croatia** » Fri Feb 08, 2013 1:26 pm

They all look good, especially Washingtonia.

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Fri Feb 08, 2013 1:33 pm

Nice pictures! Thanks for sharing.

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Fri Feb 08, 2013 2:09 pm

WOW....looks like a lot of snow, how much?

Everything looks so nice Barb, nice and healthy.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Fri Feb 08, 2013 2:45 pm

Thanks folks!

With no Arctic Blasts forecasted for February, I may get brave next week.
Plan to pull the washy teepees apart and use only a clear cover.
http://www.accuweather.com/en/ca/vernon ... ther/52852

That ought'a bring on a March arctic blast.

Yup, Aaron, we've got a pantload of snow still.
A foggy January meant the sun--when it did shine--only melted snow near the higher portions of property.
Valley bottom still has a foot of snow.
Couldn't even walk out to the compost, snow was over my boots.
But thankfully starting to recede now.

Barb

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Fri Feb 08, 2013 3:46 pm

Looks great Barb....those Washys will be diving you crazy pretty soon.

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Fri Feb 08, 2013 4:13 pm

Barb...........you have a blooming Yucca filamentosa? So cool. Keep the bloom warmer (above 30F) and hopefully the bloom will continue to grow...........keep us posted.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Fri Feb 08, 2013 4:16 pm

Jim,

I want to uncover them sooooooo badly...and re-install just a clear cover.

There's still the Christmas lights for heat on a thermocube.
Doubt they need 4 inches of fiberglass insulation any more.
Should work, huh?

I just want to see them unfurled again...hate seeing them tied up like a pork roast.

...obviously looking for permission here

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Fri Feb 08, 2013 4:18 pm

Tim, that's not a bloom.
Just a kinked leaf.

Barb

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Sun Feb 10, 2013 7:32 pm

We are all getting eager for spring. W had me haul out her precious potted (but large) olives today. As big as they are, they better not have to go back in.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sun Feb 10, 2013 8:11 pm

We are all getting eager for spring.

Desperate is more like it, Erik

Potted olives?
Your weather has been so warm compared to most of us.
You have that nice little niche/alcove where you can tuck them into.
What temp would make you haul them back in?

Barb

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Sun Feb 10, 2013 8:36 pm

They're her babies, so up to her. I figure a forecast of 20 F and assume warmer here.

andym · Post by **andym** » Mon Feb 11, 2013 6:21 am

Hi Barb, nice pics...is that a creeping Trachy you have? Manipur perhaps

That horrible snow is back with us also but luckily not on your scale.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Mon Feb 11, 2013 7:42 am

They're her babies, so up to her. I figure a forecast of 20 F

If you drop to 20F, I hope W wraps the pots in old blankets to keep cold off the roots.

.is that a creeping Trachy you have? Manipur perhaps

I think it's a Naini Tal.
We've had -4C and -5C the last 2 nights.

Putting them back inside today, as I've killed more than my share of Naini Tals.

Barb

miketropic · Post by **miketropic** » Mon Feb 11, 2013 3:55 pm

it has been staying around 50F in the day around here but nights are getting down to around 25F..should keep on that the rest of the week but snow is forcasted for the weekend.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Mon Feb 11, 2013 4:34 pm

Late winter FEELS so long.
Our temps are similar to yours now, Mike, and maybe a few snowflakes again.

Barb

GlennKing · Post by **GlennKing** » Tue Feb 12, 2013 2:56 pm

Barb,
wow everything looks nice and green there! I haven't had nice enough weather around here to check on mine lately

All my palms packed in my (not heated all to well)greenhouse looks good though

I'm thinking another 5 weeks or so before I start to slowly empty it out

Glenn.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Wed Feb 13, 2013 2:50 pm

another 5 weeks

That groundhog, beaver, otter, squirrel (whatever...

) doesn't know what he's talking about.

My vote is for an early spring for everybody...early March would make me ECSTATIC.

Not even having a little look, Glenn?
Barb

sidpook · Post by **sidpook** » Thu Feb 14, 2013 3:44 am

The groundhog can just suck it!!!! It's been a roller coaster here.....I never know when to cover my trachies orlet them off to breathe for a day or two. This week has lows int he low 30's so I'll probably leave them off for the week. Still keeping my banans coverd at night and just taking the lids off to get some air during the day....We're almost through this everyone...We can do this!!!!

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Thu Feb 14, 2013 7:51 am

never know when to cover my trachies orlet them off to breathe for a day or two.

Know the feeling, Mike.
And I almost goofed...forgot to close Washies one night.
10 pm, while watching TV, jumped up, "holy crap", forgot to close the teepees.

Discovered that a Flashlight is hardest to find when you REALLY need one.

We're almost through this everyone...We can do this!!!! icon_thumright.gif

That's the spirit, Mike.

...now if only the forecasts would be more accurate!

Barb

GlennKing · Post by **GlennKing** » Thu Feb 14, 2013 1:46 pm

Barb,
Well MAYBE this weekend I'll take a peek at my Washy. I'll cut a small hole in the plastic and take a few pics

seedscanada · Post by **seedscanada** » Thu Feb 14, 2013 2:28 pm

i gave one of my three outdoor washy filiferas some air. Dont think he liked that.
on a positivenote, I just checked inside my enclosure of my Brahea armata for the first time since November. And it looks wonderful! Inside the enclosure on the right. Phyllostachys bambusoides on the left.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Thu Feb 14, 2013 2:38 pm

cut a small hole in the plastic and take a few pics

Good idea, Glenn.
And if you see any problems, you're able to act on them now.

Case in point: I just looked at my second Washy in the other teepee...it's not looking so good.
So for the first time ever in winter, I gave it 2 gallons of tepid water.
Tried not to pour it on the palm, but beside it.
Have a feeling this guy went into winter TOO dry.
Or the leaf bags shifted (big time) and let cold in, I don't know.

Yet the other one, by the leaky eavestrough, looks fabulous.

Adam, a bit of air is good for them unless a cold wind was blowing.
It'll be good to see the B.armata again.
The bamboo looks good, came through unscathed.
Is that a Foxtail seedling on your windowsill?

Come on, Spring!!!!
Barb

seedscanada · Post by **seedscanada** » Thu Feb 14, 2013 3:16 pm

Thanks Barb.
On my windowsill is my last living Jubaea. Had nothing but bad luck with them

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Thu Feb 14, 2013 4:10 pm

my last living Jubaea.

I'd recommend putting it in a cool-ish, but south-facing, window.
They can be quite cool in winter, even when young, but they do need good light.

...you'll soon find a 5-gallon...

Barb

sidpook · Post by **sidpook** » Thu Feb 14, 2013 5:11 pm

BTW Barb, is that a little German Shepherd in your last pic??

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Thu Feb 14, 2013 8:27 pm

Nope, not a new one.
Same German Shepherd ... my best buddy "Kia".

Champion quail and magpie chaser, superlative housefly and ladybug devourer, will dig a 3 foot long 2 foot wide tunnel to find a mouse (aaaargh!).

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/1750880804/" title="DSC00574 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2222/1750 ... 309a_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="DSC00574"></a>

Barb

sidpook · Post by **sidpook** » Fri Feb 15, 2013 4:01 am

lucky1 wrote:Nope, not a new one.
Same German Shepherd ... my best buddy "Kia".

Champion quail and magpie chaser, superlative housefly and ladybug devourer, will dig a 3 foot long 2 foot wide tunnel to find a mouse (aaaargh!).

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/1750880804/" title="DSC00574 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2222/1750 ... 309a_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="DSC00574"></a>

Barb

She's a cutie, just looked smaller and different in the fiirst pic. Nice pooch! At least yours isn't a "turd devourer" like mine, ARGH!!!!

miketropic · Post by **miketropic** » Fri Feb 15, 2013 6:34 am

let the top off my needle to get some air yesterday. very very slight leaf tip burn and that was all. the spear has grown a bit and it starting to split so I would say it cruised through this winter very easy.

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Fri Feb 15, 2013 7:35 am

Finally recovered my Sabal Lou's and Needles after almost 2 weeks-
looks like (although there are some warmer days)winter will make a
return here in the next week or so-hope we get our March warmup
that has been predicted in the long range forecast for some time-

no seeing it yet though.....

BTW

Looks like there could be a major snowstorm for the mid-west next week
if everything come together just right

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Fri Feb 15, 2013 8:08 am

...a turd devourer

Mine eats deer and goose poop.
Probably to hide the evidence that she wasn't on top of her watchdog duties...

miketropic, so a zone 8 winter so far?

Jim, 2 weeks of air is a good break from winter.
Hope the forecasts are wrong for you.

Barb

miketropic · Post by **miketropic** » Fri Feb 15, 2013 2:40 pm

We did have 3 days of really cold temps but for the majority of winter it was comparable to a zone 8A all winter long. If we could some how shorten the duration of the cold each night I think we would be a real zone 8

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Fri Feb 15, 2013 2:59 pm

Yeah, well it's not all about temperature.

The following is bad news.

I'll NEVER use leaf-filled bags again.

They shift, they do produce heat but they also produce wayyyyyy too much moisture.

The pics say it all:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8477548974/" title="001 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8110/8477 ... 572b_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="001"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8477569840/" title="002 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8387/8477 ... 68f1_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="002"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8477568354/" title="003 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8527/8477 ... ff3e_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="003"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8477567090/" title="004 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8108/8477 ... 86a1_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="004"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8477565760/" title="005 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8531/8477 ... 440e_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="005"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8477564324/" title="006 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8101/8477 ... 3718_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="006"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8477562800/" title="007 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8369/8477 ... 42d6_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="007"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8477550232/" title="008 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8532/8477 ... 916e_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="008"></a>

Lots of earthworms, normally a good thing, but not this time.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8477561618/" title="009 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8242/8477 ... f9d4_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="009"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8476468609/" title="011 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8108/8476 ... 5cb2_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="011"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8476461451/" title="013 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8507/8476 ... 42b9_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="013"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8476465737/" title="014 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8520/8476 ... e5af_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="014"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8476464257/" title="015 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8102/8476 ... 7a01_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="015"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8476462849/" title="016 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8107/8476 ... 37ec_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="016"></a>

So I think I'm losing BOTH of them.

And after seeing that, I had to get rid of/empty all the bags:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8476470057/" title="010 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8249/8476 ... dc3d_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="010"></a>

But the y.rostratas look mint.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8476467157/" title="012 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8370/8476 ... a0c7_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="012"></a>

Two (used to be) gorgeous Washies.
I'm so mad at myself I could spit nails.

Barb

sidpook · Post by **sidpook** » Fri Feb 15, 2013 3:23 pm

Ugh, sorry Barb. You work so hard with all your stuff too. I'm sure they'll survive thoug; maybe just not look as stellar as you're hoping for a few months!

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Fri Feb 15, 2013 4:19 pm

I'm sure they'll survive though

I'm hoping against hope...that you're right.
Thanks for that.

Barb

sidpook · Post by **sidpook** » Fri Feb 15, 2013 5:12 pm

lucky1 wrote:
I'm sure they'll survive though
I'm hoping against hope...that you're right.
Thanks for that.

Barb

I'll light a few candles in honor of Saint Fiacre; patron saint of gardeners for you.

miketropic · Post by **miketropic** » Fri Feb 15, 2013 8:04 pm

I really think they can come back but it will be slow going for them to grow out of that bad and get some good leaves back. I know the feeling I opened up my storge locker the other day and found 200+ rotten colocasia and about 100 rotten canna rhizomes..

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Sat Feb 16, 2013 7:32 am

Barb

Unless the spears/trunks are mushy they will be fine.

There always seems to be some mold or fungus in the enclosure when they have to be closed up
so tight for so long-as long as the spears are firm and have not froze,I am sure they are fine....

Keep them as dry as is reasonable and just hold on-not much longer now....

Just thinking today that it was only a few weeks from today(last year) that my Washy was uncovered for
the season-the warmest March in history helped-doubt that will happen again but we are getting close!

miketropic · Post by **miketropic** » Sat Feb 16, 2013 9:33 am

very true Jim, once we hit March I just about can't stand it anymore.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sat Feb 16, 2013 12:05 pm

Unless the spears/trunks are mushy they will be fine.

Oh, thank you, Jim, you made my day.
I've been in such a funk since yesterday.

Spears are firm.
No mush at all, when I touch the fronds a black/grey dust flies around, reminds me of chimney soot.
Mold airplanes

Glad I didn't leave all this crap in place for another month or two...wouldn't have been anything left in there.

Yeah, last March was the beginning of a summer long heat-wave for you.

And, man, did your stuff ever grow!

the other day and found 200+ rotten colocasia and about 100 rotten canna rhizomes..

That's the pits, Miketropic.
Hard to take.